From: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Subject: Skunk Works Digest V5 #290 Reply-To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Errors-To: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu Precedence: bulk Skunk Works Digest Sunday, 4 June 1995 Volume 05 : Number 290 In this issue: Operation ARGUS F---ing Rules Re: F---ing Rules Belly landing a DC-10: Movie sez no Re: F---ing Rules Dark Star Press Release Paris Airshow DoD Press Release Re: Belly landing a DC-10: Movie sez no See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the skunk-works or skunk-works-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Sun, 4 Jun 1995 10:32:01 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Operation ARGUS After writing an article about the X-Planes for the Polish aviation magazine "Lotnictwo", I did a little more research on Lockheed's X-17 rockets, which were later also used in the test program 'Operation Argus', involving exo-atmospheric nuclear explosions. The following is the result of my research, using several unclassified and recently declassified documents, which I received from the Reynolds Electrical & Engineering Corporation, Inc. (REECo), Coordination & Information Center (CIC), Las Vegas, NV, which is a subsidiary of the infamous EG&G company. They are distributing the material on behalf of the Department of Energy (DoE), which installed a WWW-server, called 'OpenNet', where everybody can search their database for declassified and unclassified documents concerning nuclear explosions, safety, weapons, tests, etc., and can request copies of those documents. For more information and a list of my sources see the end of this article. The original X-17 program was initiated to test re-entry vehicle designs for ICBM warheads. Originally 25 test vehicles were planned, which were ordered from Lockheed's newly established Missile Systems Division (LMSD) - -- later renamed Lockheed Missile and Space Company (LMSC) -- and were designated X-17. A 26th vehicle was later added, built from spare parts. In addition to the 26 full-scale Research vehicles, Lockheed built 3 Quarter-scale and 3 Half-scale Test vehicles, and 6 Development/Test full-scale vehicles. The program was initiated in 1955, and ended with the last flight (of the 26th Research vehicle) on August 22, 1957. All missiles were launched from the Air Force Missile Test Center (AFMTC), Cape Canaveral AFS, FL. In 1958, a project code named 'Operation ARGUS' was initiated, to test the effects of exo-atmospheric nuclear explosions and if an artificial radiation belt, similar to the Van Allen Belts, would be created. The proposed effects were described and predicted by Nicholas Christofilos, a physicist at the University of California Radiation Laboratory (UCRL) at Livermore, CA. The operation under the auspices of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) originally called for 4 test launches of X-17a vehicles, followed by two nuclear weapons tests, the first at an altitude between 200 and 1,000 miles, and the second one at an altitude of 2,000 to 4,000 miles, both launched from the same location with X-17a missiles. The tests would be monitored by satellites in equatorial and polar orbits and sounding rockets launched from ground locations. The shots were originally code named HARDTACK-ARGUS (as part of Operation HARDTACK, which included two high-altitude nuclear weapons tests: TEAK and ORANGE), but were later renamed Project FLORAL under Operation ARGUS. It was first outlined in ARPA Order 4-58, dated April 28, 1958, and was later extended and specifically described in a Top Secret, Restricted Data, Limited Distribution Operation Order 7-58, prepared by the Commander of Task Force 88 (CTF 88), which was created to conduct Operation ARGUS. It included the following sub-programs, some of which had their own code names: Project 7.1: Satellite Measurements: - ------------------------------------ * Responsible: Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) Support: - State University of Iowa - Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA - Naval Research Laboratory - Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory - Office of Chief Signal Officer, U.S. Army - Smithsonian Astrophysical Laboratory - Army Map Service - Ballistic Research Laboratories - Army Security Agency - Air Force Missile Test Center (AFMTC), Cape Canaveral, FL * Launching of two satellites, Explorer IV and Explorer V, to measure the effects of the planned nuclear exo-atmospheric explosions. Explorer IV: - launched at 10:00 EST on July 26, 1958 with a Jupiter-C (also known as Juno I) missile from the AFMTC; Explorer IV was also known by its international launch designation 1958 epsilon 1; - first used to monitor the natural background radiation and later the effects of the TEAK shot on July 31, 1958, (10:50:05.6 Zulu, August 1, 1958) and the ORANGE shot on August 11, 1958, (10:30:08.6 Zulu, August 12, 1958), both launched from Johnston Island in the North Pacific; - during TEAK a weak ARGUS effect was observed, as was during the three ARGUS shots. Over 40 ground stations tracked Explorer IV or monitored the transmitted telemetry and scientific data; Explorer V: - launched on August 10, 1958, also from the AFMTC on a Jupiter-C launcher, but failed to reach orbit. Project 7.2: Sounding Rocket Measurements - code named Project JASON: - --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Responsible: Air Force Special Weapons Center (AFSWC) Support: - Aerolab Development Company - Lockheed Missile Systems Division (LMSD) - NACA Pilotless Aircraft Research Station, Wallops Island, VA - Air Force Missile Test Center (AFMTC), Cape Canaveral, FL - 72nd Bomber Wing, Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico * During the first two ARGUS tests, sounding rockets were launched to measure the effects of the high-altitude explosions. Four Aerolab sounding rockets were launched for ARGUS I on August 27, 1958, two from Patrick AFB, FL, and two from Ramey AFB. For ARGUS II, twelve sounding rockets were launched, between August 30 and September 2, 1958, five from Wallops Island, four from Patrick AFB, and three from Ramey AFB. Project 7.3: Surface Measurements - code named Project MIDAS: - ------------------------------------------------------------- * Responsible: Air Force Cambridge Research Center (AFCRC) and Stanford Research Institute (SRI) Support: - Layes AB, Azores - Torrejon AB, Spain - USS Abemarle (AV-5) - USS Norton Sound (AVM-1) - USS Tarawa (CVS-40) - Stanford University, Radio Propagation Laboratory, Hawaii, and Palo Alto, CA - Air Force Cambridge Research Center (AFCRC), Plum Island, MA - Raytheon, South Dartmouth, MA, and Grand Bahama Island - National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. - Office of Naval Research, Washington, D.C. - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Lincoln Laboratory, Ipswich, MA, Sacramento Peak, NM, and the Aleutian Islands - Rome Air Development Center, Laredo, TX * The principal goal was to study the effects of electrons emitted by the high-altitude bursts, that entered the Earth's dense lower atmosphere. The main site for VLF and ELF radio receivers, ionospheric instruments, and magnetometers was at Lajes AB, on the Azores. Other instruments were located at the above mentioned sites. * Additionally, two USAF Boeing C-97A Stratofreighter (USAF serials '48-400' and '49-2596') from Lajes AFB, Azores, with ionospheric instruments (and one also with airborne spectrophotometers and all-sky camera, operated by AFCRC personnel), were deployed for Operation ARGUS; * This program may or may not have been related to the Missile Detection and Alarming System (MIDAS) satellite program -- a predecessor of the Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites -- which used infrared sensors to detect ICBM-launches. MIDAS sensors were flown on board of at least one U-2D, serial '56-6722', article 389, belonging to the Special Projects Branch of the USAF Flight Test Center, located at the North Base facility of Edwards AFB, CA. This aircraft is now -- reconfigured as U-2A -- displayed at the USAF Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH. The MIDAS satellites and its payloads were developed by the LMSD. Another U-2A, serial 56-6701, article 368, was controlled by the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory (AFCRL) of Bedford, MA, and was used for various atmospheric research, often out of L.G. Hanscom Field, like atmospheric pressure, moisture, ozone content, and electrical field measurements. The aircraft was nicknamed 'The Saint' and was also used, together with other 'Smokey Joe' U-2A and WU-2As, during nuclear weapons tests for photgraphic, air-sampling and other duties. It is now displayed -- as U-2C -- at the SAC Museum, Offutt AFB, NE. Project 7.4: Nuclear Weapon Launch Support - code named Project FLORAL, including the Project POGO rockets (and Winder missiles): - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- * Responsible: U.S. Navy - Commander-In-Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) - Commander Task Force 88 (CTF 88) Support: - Office of Naval Research (ONR) - Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) - Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) - Sandia Corporation - Lockheed Missile Systems Division (LMSD) * Task Force 88 (TF 88), activated for planning purposes on June 2, 1958, and became an operational command on July 14, 1958, comprised the following six Task Groups (TG): - TG 88.1 - Carrier Group, consisted of: - USS Tarawa (CVS-40), with Air Antisubmarine Squadron 32 (VS-32) equipped with nineteen Grumman S2F-1 and S2F-2 Tracker, and Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 5 (HS-5) equipped with 8 Sikorsky HSS-1 SeaKing, - assigned rescue destroyers; - the commanding officer of the Tarawa was the Group Commander; - TG 88.2 - Destroyer Group, consisted of: - USS Warrington (DD-843), equiped with Loki-Dart rockets, - USS Bearss (DD-654), - USS Hammerberg (DD-1015), - USS Courtney (DD-1021); - the commanding officer of the Warrington was the Group Commander; - TG 88.3 - Mobile Logistics Group, consisted of: - USS Neosho (AO-143), equipped with USAF MSQ-1 radar and communication vans, - USS Salamonie (AO-26), - assigned destroyers; - the commanding officer of the Neosho was the Group Commander; - TG 88.4 - Missile Group, consisted of: - USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), equipped with four Deacon POGO rockets, three X-17a nuclear warhead equipped FLORAL missiles, and radar and electromagnetic instrumentation equipment for the AFCRC measurement program, - assigned destroyers; - the commanding officer of the Norton Sound was the Group Commander; - TG 88.5 - Scientific Support Group, consisted of: - USS Albemarle (AV-5), with AFCRC equipment and personnel, operating in the vicinity of the Azores; - TG 88.6 - Headquarters Group, was based at the AFSWP headquarters at the Pentagon; * The USS Norton Sound (AVM-1) was modified with a missile launch platform, the hangar was converted to a storage area for the missiles and their handling trailer, the ship's aviation gasoline bunkers were converted to fuel-oil bunkers, doubling the ship's capacity, and other equipment changes were performed at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard in June of 1958, converting the ship from a Terrier/Tartar missile test capability (with X-5 dual-arm launcher) to an long-range X-17a test missile launcher. * Accompanied by the USS Floyd County (LST-762), equipped with an USAF MSQ-1 radar from Orlando AFB, the USS Norton Sound tested the ability to launch X-17a missile from a ship. The four X-17a missiles, equipped with a dummy warhead (telemetry payload), called 'Winder' missiles in contrast to the three nuclear warhead equipped X-17a missiles, which were called FLORAL missiles, were launched at the Naval Air Missile Test Center's (NAMTC) Sea Test Range off Point Mugu, CA. Only two of the four test launches were successful: - the first launch on July 2, 1958 was successful, reaching an altitude of 302 nm (560 km); - a practice fueling at sea and high-line transfer operations were conducted with the fleet tanker USS Talvana (AO-64) off Long Beach, CA, on July 3; - the second launch was a failure; the missile failed after 25 seconds; - the third launch was also a failure; the missile broke up within the first 3 seconds after launch; - on July 18, 1958, a decision was made to remove the spin rockets and reduce the first-stage spin cant on each of two fins; - the fourth launch on July 24, 1958, was successful, reaching an altitude of 363 nm (672 km); * The USS Norton Sound departed the Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, CA, for its journey around Cape Horn to the proposed test site in the South Atlantic at 18:00 on August 1, 1958, after Lockheed technicians and ship personnel assembled and loaded the three warhead-equipped X-17a missiles, working around the clock for six days. * From August 12 to August 22, fourteen Bendix Loki-Dart high-altitude anti- aircraft 30 inch (76 mm) unguided rockets, equipped with AN/DPN-23 (XE-12) radio beacons, were launched from the USS Warrington. The launches were conducted for countdown, launch, and missile-tracking drills, simulating procedures for the ARGUS launches. * Before the first X-17a with a nuclear warhead was launched, three modified Deacon rockets, code named POGO, were launched from the USS Norton Sound on August 25, and a fourth on August 26, 1958, to permit all units of TF 88 to rehearse their missions. * The classified nuclear warhead payload were probably modified W25 warheads, which were developed by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL), now Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), for the unguided air-to-air rocket AIR-2A Genie. The warhead reached initial deployment in 1957, and had a yield of 1.5 to 2 kt, (1-2 kt are listed for all three ARGUS events). Its weight should be in the proposed weight range from about 300 lb. to 500 lb, and its length and diameter would made it fit perfectly into the ARGUS payload fairing on top of the FLORAL missile. * The three-stage X-17a missile (technical data given for 'Winder' missile) was 42 feet, 10 inches long, including the payload fairing, had a fin-span of 91.12 inches, and a (maximum) diameter of 31 inches. The first stage, consisting of a Thiokol XM-20 Sergeant solid-fueled rocket, was 20 feet long, the second stage, consisting of three bundled Thiokol XM-19 Recruit solid-fueled rockets, was 9 feet, 4 inches long, and the third stage, consisting of a single Thiokol XM-19E1 Recruit solid-fueled rocket, was 9 feet, 3 inches long. The payload fairing, equipped with a beacon transmitter, an arming and fusing device, the warhead, and a nose cap, was 4 feet, 3 inches long. Apparently, the first three 'Winder' missiles used the spin rockets and a stronger spin-cant of the tail-fins for spin-stabilization of the rocket, but the last 'Winder' and the three 'FLORAL' missiles did not use the small jettisonable spin rockets at all. No photo of an actual FLORAL missile is available, and all pictures of X-17a on board of the USS Norton Sound seem to show one of the first three 'Winder' test missiles, equipped with the small spin-rockets, strapped around the first stage. * The three Operation ARGUS launches were: - ARGUS I : Launch Time: 02:20:25 Zulu, August 27, 1958; Launch Coordinates: 43 degree 35 minutes South, 09 degree 05 minutes West; Detonation Time: 02:27:52.55 Zulu, August 27, 1958; Detonation Coordinates: 38 degree 48 minutes South, 10 degree 55 minutes West; Detonation Altitude: below 300 miles (classified); - ARGUS II : Launch Time: 03:10:07 Zulu, August 30, 1958; Launch Coordinates: 48 degree 01 minutes South, 08 degree 19 minutes West; Detonation Time: 03:17:33.79 Zulu, August 30, 1958; Detonation Coordinates: 49 degree 23 minutes South, 08 degree 43 minutes West; Detonation Altitude: below 300 miles (classified); - ARGUS III: Launch Time: 22:05:00 Zulu, September 6, 1958; Launch Coordinates: 50 degree 02 minutes South, 08 degree 32 minutes West; Detonation Time: 22:12:33.35 Zulu, September 6, 1958; Detonation Coordinates: 49 degree 30 minutes South, 10 degree 24 minutes West, or: 48 degree 30 minutes South, 09 degree 42 minutes West; Detonation Altitude: at about 300 miles (classified); Project 7.5: Satellite Launching from Aircraft: - ----------------------------------------------- * Responsible: Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS), Inyokern, CA * This project, which was added during June/July 1958 to Operation ARGUS, called for several objectives: - the development, production and testing of a rocket for the launch of small satellites from airborne USN aircraft (Douglas F4D-1 Skyray); - the development, production, testing and launch of small satellites, equipped with an instrument package for radiation measurement and a transmitter, to be used as a backup for Explorer IV and V; - the development, production and testing of 'Microlock' ground stations to track and receive telemetry data; * This project, which predated some better known aircraft-to-orbit rockets/ launch systems by some decades, like the USAF's Anti-Satellite Missile (ASAT) program and the Orbital Science Corporations (OSC) Pegasus launcher, was very ambitious but not very successful. The idea of an aircraft-launched satellite was conceived at NOTS in the Fall of 1957 and in the Spring of 1958 the project was started and completed in less than 6 months. * The NOTS designed launch system consisted of a 5-stage, unguided, solid- fueled rocket, capable of delivering a 2.3 lbs. payload into a 1,000 mile orbit. It had a length of 172.5 inches (4.3 m), a (maximum) diameter of 30 inches (75 cm), and a fin-span of 65 inches (1.6 m). The first and second stage consisted of so-called HOTROC rocket engines, while the third stage was an APL-241 designated rocket engine. The fourth stage was a very small rocket engine and the fifth stage comprised the payload and a small retro rocket. The complete launch vehicle, including the payload, weighed approximately 2,150 lbs. (975 kg). * Starting on June 6, through August 20, several tests were conducted at the Pacific Missile Ranges G-1, G-2, and R-4: - 4 ground launches to test the Horizon Scanner; - 4 ground launches of 4 purpose built Structural Test Vehicles (STV), testing the first stage HOTROC motor; - 11 test flights with F4D-1 aircraft, carrying instrumented dummy payloads or aerobalistic shapes, to test the ability of the aircraft to perform a 59 degree pull up for the LABS-type launch, including 5 test drops; - 2 test launches of the Horizon Scanner from a Douglas F3D Skyknight; - a preliminary launch of an STV from an F4D-1; - a Fin-Flutter Test; - an Acceleration Test; * Three satellite launch attempts for Project ARGUS were conducted on July 25, August 12, and August 22, carrying a diagnostic payload, which all failed to reach orbit. Three additional launch attempts, carrying the ARGUS radiation measurement payload, were conducted on August 25, August 26 and August 28, but also failed to reach orbit. In all cases, except the third launch attempt on August 22, the first stage rocket engine malfunctioned. All six launches were performed over the Pacific Missile Range at an average altitude of 37,250 ft. and an average speed of 700 ft./sec (415 kts) with an average launch angle of 58 degrees. * The five Microlock ground receiver stations, manned by NOTS personnel, were successfully deployed around the world to: - New Zealand, - Alaska, - Greenland, - the Azores, and - Hawaii, and were used for tracking and receiving telemetry and scientific data from Explorer IV. Conclusion: - ----------- Several aspects of Operation ARGUS are still classified, like the warhead designation and detonation altitudes. Other data is not yet available, like the date of the second and third Winder X-17a launches, or serial numbers (if assigned) of the 7 test missiles. But this data should become available soon, due to the declassification process initiated by one of President Clinton's Executive Orders. The most interesting aspect of Operation ARGUS, seems to me the secret development of an aircraft-based satellite launch system, including a small satellite payload and transportable ground stations -- from design to orbital test flights -- in just 6 months. The cost for this sub-project of Operation ARGUS accounted for just $750,000, less than 8% of the total cost for the whole ARPA program, and less than the Ground Instrumentation Program of the AFCRC costs. Even though it was not really successful, it could have been developed (e.g. into a fast reaction reconnaissance satellite launch platform or an Anti-Satellite weapon), if development would have continued. This program fulfills all criteria for a black 'Skunk Works' type program: * very innovative * very secret * very fast paced * relatively small budget * utilizing purpose-built test vehicles Appendix ======== The URL of the DoE www-home page is: "http://www.doe.gov/" The URL for the OpenNet database is: "http://www.doe.gov/html/opennet/opennet1.html" The email address of REECo's CIC is: "cic@egg.nv.doe.gov" Sources used: - ------------- 1) Title: The X-Planes -- X-1 to X-31 Author: Jay Miller Publisher: Aerofax Inc., Arlington, TX , 1988 Publisher: Midland Counties Publications, England, 1988 ISBN: 0-517-56749-0 2) Title: Operation ARGUS - 1958 Document Number: DNA6039F Accession Number: NV0040338 3) Title: Operation ARGUS - Satellite Launching from Aircraft (U) Document Number: WT1667 Accession Number: NV0173410 4) Title: Operation ARGUS - Report of the Commander, Task Force 88 (U) Accession Number: NV0133192 5) Title: Announced United States Nuclear Tests -- July 1945 through December 1984 Document Number: NVO209REV5 Accession Number: NV0041398 6) Title: List of United States Tests Accession Number: NV0177509 7) Title: Nuclear Weapons Databook -- Volume I U.S. Nuclear Forces and Capabilities Author: Thomas B. Cochran, William M. Arkin, and Milton M. Hoenig Publisher: Ballinger Publishing Company ISBN: 0-88410-172-X (C) 8) Title: The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions Document Number: OTAISC414 Accession Number: NV0069043 9) Title: Background Fact Sheet on Nevada Test Site Accession Number: NV0134638 10) Title: Orientation Nevada Test Site Author: D. L. Prickett (USAF) Accession Number: NV0041756 11) Title: Radiological Safety Criteria for Nevada Test Site - draft Accession Number: NV0105629 12) Title: Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons tests (1945-1962) -- Exposure Criteria, Film Badge and Decontamination Summary (draft report) Document Number: 212641 Accession Number: NV0069148 13) Title: Status of Nuclear Test Reports Document Number: TID9534 Accession Number: NV0134767 14) Various other sources for details. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ From: kklapper@vt.edu (Kevin Klapperich) Date: Sun, 4 Jun 1995 14:42:17 -0500 Subject: F---ing Rules I recently sent an e-mail to a friend of my Dad's who was former engineer in Skunkworks and also did work on Northrop's B-2. This "friend" now lives in California and does occasional consulting jobs for DoD contracting firms, however to what extent I don't know. In fact, it was through my Dad that I got this guy's e-mail address in which my father passed along that I should not e-mail anything that maybe classified according to this "friend". Anyway,in the message that I sent him, I asked his opinion on some of the AW&ST articles that I see mentioned through this newsgroup. Those being the March cover story on the B-2 and the more current one where someone said there were quite a few skunkworks related articles. I then signed my name and as a joke included "P.S. The dog barks at midnight." Shortly after this fellow got my message, he called my father livid about what I had sent and demanded that send nothing further "until I learn the f---ing rules." I'd welcome any input,advice, opinion, related story, or a copy of these rules by anyone else. Thanks for reading. Kevin ------------------------------ From: "Joe Claffey Jr." Date: Sun, 4 Jun 1995 15:05:19 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: F---ing Rules Since I'm not in the biz, I'll have to guess at what they are. However, I think your email may have broken two "unwritten" rules about interacting with people who have access to sensitive information. 1) Don't discuss open literature that relates to sensitive material. It's possible to draw a lot of conclusions by confirming guesswork. Many aspects of the B-2 are still classified, so discussing the B-2 in any but the most general sense would be a no-no. 2) Don't send them anything cryptic. *Anything* could be a code phrase. I wouldn't be surprised if email to people working at sensitive sites is scanned for anything that seems "unusual." And the people who scan it are paid to be paranoid. - -- Joe Claffey | "In the end, everything is a gag." jrc@pcnet.com | - Charlie Chaplin ------------------------------ From: wizard@sccsi.com (John F. Regus) Date: Sun, 4 Jun 1995 15:00:26 -0500 Subject: Belly landing a DC-10: Movie sez no I watched a movie on HBO the other day that re-enacted the Sioux City crash of a United DC-10 a few years ago. One of the characters in the movie, said that a jumbo jet could not be belly landed. Can someone explain to me why this is not possible? Is it because the size of the aircraft makes the airframe less rigid than a smaller aircraft? Enquiring minds want to know.... ************************************************************************* * STRATACOM WORLDNET * internet: wizard@sccsi.com | SYS/370/390 * internet: STRATACOM_WORLDNET@msn.com | Systems Software Engineering * voice: 713-960-0045 | Data and Tele-Communications * fax/data:713-960-0015 | * WUI: REGUSHOU | John F. Regus, Consultant ************************************************************************* ------------------------------ From: kuryakin@arn.net (Illya Kuryakin) Date: Sun, 4 Jun 1995 15:17:41 -0500 Subject: Re: F---ing Rules I'd have to say that the first thing you should have done was to send a bare minimum email asking if he'd be willing to discuss some things with you _without_ naming any specifics. Just an open invitation to chat... nothing more. The almost-flip attitude didn't help, either. Unfortunately, there's probably nothing you can do to salvage the situation. The guy has obviously formed an opinion. About the only thing you could do would be to send another email containing profuse, prostrate apologies and a polite, gentle request for the list of 'The Rules'. But obviously, the guy is working in sensitive areas... you'll probably not get anything... the nature of his response is probably directly proportional to the nature of his concern over his employment stability. Cheers, Illya Kuryakin ------------------------------ From: Gschaffe@mic01.redstone.army.mil Date: Sun, 4 Jun 95 16:03:26 CDT Subject: Dark Star Press Release Here is the text of the official DoD press release on Dark Star. "I am not authorized to have other than official opinions." Glenn Schaffer US Army Targets Office Reference Number: No. 293-95 (703)695-5131(media) (703)697-3189(copies) (703)697-5737(public/industry) June 1, 1995 IMMEDIATE RELEASE DoD Unveils Tier III Minus "DarkStar" UAV The Department of Defense (DoD) unveiled the low observable Tier III Minus unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) today in a ceremony hosted by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale, Calif. Never before seen in public, the Tier III Minus UAV, known by the nickname DarkStar, is one of two high altitude endurance UAVs being developed for the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO) by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) joint UAV program office. ARPA is the executing agent for Tier III Minus development, with both DARO and ARPA providing funds. A Lockheed/Boeing team is leading the development of the Tier III Minus (DarkStar) system. Each company is responsible for approximately 50 percent of the development program. Boeing is responsible for the wing and wing subsystem development and testing, and Lockheed is responsible for the design and development of the body and its subsystems, final assembly, integration and system test. A single turbo-fan engine, supplied by Williams International, will provide power for the vehicle. DarkStar is a low observable tactical reconnaissance UAV that will operate within the current military force structure and with existing command, control, communications, computer and intelligence (C4I) equipment. At a planned $10 million a copy (FY94 dollars), the DarkStar UAV will provide affordable, near real time, continuous, all weather, wide area surveillance in support of tactical commanders. The result will be timely information that the tactical commander can immediately exploit for accurate situational awareness and to perform precision strikes and other high priority intelligence and reconnaissance tasks. -MORE- As one of the DoD's Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations, the Tier III Minus program is bringing together military users and the technologists early in the development process. Through demonstrations being conducted by the Services, military utility and the concept of operations for the vehicle will be refined before a production decision is made. Service demonstrations will begin in 1996. The Tier III Minus program is the first project to be executed under the "Section 845 Authority" granted to ARPA for prototype weapons development projects. This authority has paved the way for unprecedented government-industry collaboration by removing the burden of specialized Defense procurement regulations and statutes. The program represents a new way of doing business -- one that is based on teamwork and mutual trust, fostered by open dialogue on all issues. Integrated product and process teams have been empowered to successfully accomplish the Tier III Minus development. Extensive use of commercial items and methods are contributing to meeting program cost goals. Optimized for low observables, DarkStar's operational goal is to be highly survivable while penetrating high threat environments. Complementing the Tier III Minus is the Tier II Plus, which will be optimized for long range and endurance in a low-to-moderate threat environment. Both vehicles will be capable of fully autonomous take-off, flight and recovery; be capable of dynamic retasking while in flight; and will operate in the same force structure. First flight of the DarkStar system is expected before the end of the year with initial flight testing completed in mid- 1996. These initial flights will be followed by integrated exercises with the military services. Additional information on the program can be found through the Internet on the World Wide Web at: http://www.arpa.mil/asto/tier3.html. -END- ------------------------------ From: Gschaffe@mic01.redstone.army.mil Date: Sun, 4 Jun 95 16:07:12 CDT Subject: Paris Airshow DoD Press Release Here is the text of the official DoD press release on US participation in the Paris airshow. Glenn Schaffer June 1, 1995 MEMORANDUM FOR CORRESPONDENTS Twenty different models of U.S. military aircraft and approximately 160 support personnel from bases in Europe and the U.S. are scheduled to attend this year's Paris Airshow, June 10- 18, 1995. Aircraft scheduled for static display at the show include (Air Force) B-2, C-17, F-15E, E-8A (Joint Stars), F-16C, C-130, HH-60G; (Navy/Marine Corps) F/A-18, E-2C, C-20G, P-3C; AH-1W, V- 22; (Army) OH-58D, CH-47D, AH-64A, AH-64-D, and UH-60A. Also participating will be the X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability aircraft and the XV-15 tilt-rotor aircraft. Military personnel supporting the show provide air crew, maintenance and administrative support services. The Paris Airshow is one of the premier events of its type in the world. U.S. military participation contributes to a number of U.S. security and foreign policy interests through promoting standardization and interoperability of equipment with our NATO allies and other potential coalition partners; highlighting the strength of U.S. commitment to the security of Europe; and demonstrating to a large international audience U.S. industry is producing the kinds of equipment that will be critical to the success of future military operations. -END- ------------------------------ From: jkbacon@pacifier.com (Kirk Bacon) Date: Sun, 04 Jun 1995 19:23:48 -0700 Subject: Re: Belly landing a DC-10: Movie sez no >I watched a movie on HBO the other day that re-enacted the Sioux City crash >of a United DC-10 a few years ago. One of the characters in the movie, said >that a jumbo jet could not be belly landed. Can someone explain to me why >this is not possible? Is it because the size of the aircraft makes the >airframe less rigid than a smaller aircraft? > > >Enquiring minds want to know.... >************************************************************************* >* STRATACOM WORLDNET >* internet: wizard@sccsi.com | SYS/370/390 >* internet: STRATACOM_WORLDNET@msn.com | Systems Software Engineering >* voice: 713-960-0045 | Data and Tele-Communications >* fax/data:713-960-0015 | >* WUI: REGUSHOU | John F. Regus, Consultant >************************************************************************* The anecdotes never end - Never say never. One Air Force Colonel giving another Colonel a checkride managed to land a C-5A gear-up at Travis AFB back in 1985. They discovered that you have to really have to yell to be heard over that annoying gear warning horn. The common joke is you know when you have landed gear-up because it takes military power (max thrust) to taxi. The bottom 2 ft of the fuselage was scorched and somewhat crumpled. I believe the Colonels' careers suffered similiar damage. The plane was approved for a one-time flight back to Lockheed in Marietta and repaired for $30 mil or so. Sucessful gear-up landings are more a function of aircraft geometry (wing & engine placement) than gross weight. The C-5's engines do not reach the ground with the gear retracted (wings mounted on top of fuselage). This is not the case with the DC-10 (wings mounted on bottom), so there certainly is a high probability that the pod engines will be torn off the wing when landing gear-up. This leads to a chain of rather nasty events starting with wing failure, fuel spillage, fire etc, etc. ------------------------------ End of Skunk Works Digest V5 #290 ********************************* To subscribe to skunk-works-digest, send the command: subscribe skunk-works-digest in the body of a message to "majordomo@mail.orst.edu". 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